The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Dotsero Crater Rec Site Recreation Site near Dotsero, Colorado is where a volcano erupted about 4,200 years ago. This site, which has numerous scoria cones, is one of the last volcano eruptions in the Continental United States, and it is a fantastic place to go hiking.
This site near the Colorado and Eagle rivers confluence is a terrific place to go camping. You can boondock at this site or choose between nearby Bureau of Land Management campgrounds. In fact, if you are not familiar with BLM RV camping, you will want to check them out whenever you are traveling in the western United States and Alaska. Many are in gorgeous areas, and you can stay at most of them for up to 14 days at no or a very minimal charge. Dotsero Crater Recreation Site is about 105 miles southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park. Search for "BLM camping near me" wherever you roam for high-quality accommodations.
You will love exploring the aspen forest at the beginning of this White River National Forest trail, even though it is an uphill climb starting off an old jeep trail near LEDE Reservoir. Once you reach the top of the ridge, you will discover a large grassy meadow, so consider packing a picnic and a blanket. This trail ends near Powerline Road, officially Forest Road 414, near Sylvan Lake, after passing through another wooded area filled with spruce and fir forest. Bring along a trail map because this course can be challenging to follow in places because of old cattle trails.
Length:2.8 miles
Intensity: Medium
This family-friendly trail includes a fishing pier and interpretative signage, so it is a great place to spend an afternoon. Start this White River National Forest trail near Loop B at the Yeoman Park Campground. It is an ideal option when the wildflowers bloom in the spring, and you may see beavers building their homes. This trail ends at Yeoman Park Day Use Area.
Length: 1.7 miles
Intensity: Easy
This trail crosses several switchbacks, starting at the Fulford Cave Campground and ending at Fulford Cave. You can explore the cave from mid-October to mid-April, but you will need to obtain a permit first from White River National Forest officials. It starts at the same trailhead as Lake Charles Trail #1889, so be sure to take the trail to your left.
Length: 0.6 miles
Intensity: Easy
The Eagle River is a fantastic spot to go fishing from April to July for wild brown and rainbow trout on dry flies from a float. It can also be a terrific spot to fish year-round for anglers preferring to wade fish. Because of spawning, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission asks anglers to stop fishing when the water reaches above 65 degrees.
The Punch Bowl at Lime Creek near Sylvan Lake State Park is a fantastic place to climb on limestone rock. You will be entering a canyon, and this area is on the east side of the canyon. There are other fantastic options in this canyon, so other choices are available if you encounter too many people.
Dowd Junction Elk Viewing Area is a fantastic spot to go wildlife viewing. The best viewing occurs in the winter as several hundred elk spend the winter at this location. They can be challenging to spot in the daytime, but they move into the open about sunrise and sunset, so try to plan your stop accordingly.
Sylvan Lake State Park is a fantastic spot for a picnic. After your picnic, follow the lakeside trail to see the wildlife, including red foxes, marmots, mule deer, elk, black bears, pine martens, coyotes, porcupines, cottontail rabbits, and beavers. The 42-acre lake is also a prime place for a paddling adventure.
There is no campground at Dotsero Crater Recreation Site, but you can find terrific options for RV camping nearby. The closest BLM RV camping is Wolcott Campground, about eight miles from Eagle. This campground along the Eagle River has a boat ramp. Another terrific nearby option is the campgrounds at Sylvan Lake State Park. There are two high-elevation campgrounds that feature coin-operated showers during the warmer months and year-round vault toilets.
You can boondock at Dotsero Crater Rec Site, but there are no organized Bureau of Land Management free camping options in this area. There are many nearby primitive campgrounds in White River National Forest. Deep Lake Campground sits on the east side of Deep Lake and offers a vault toilet. Sites are equipped for trailers 35 feet long and shorter. Sweetwater Lake Campground sits on the south end of Sweetwater Lake. Each site comes with a picnic table and a fire ring. There is a vault toilet. Trailers over 30 feet long will find it challenging to fit in the spots.
The Eagle and Colorado rivers lie adjacent to Dotsero Crate Recreation Site, and this is a fantastic place for a whitewater rafting adventure. Many people choose to start their adventure on the Eagle River near Vail, Colorado, and raft its 80-mile course. Consider starting your adventure near Camp Hale National Historic Site, and you will experience Class II to Class IV rapids, with one of the most exciting parts of the trip being the Dowd Chutes. Once you get nearer the confluence of the two rivers, there are many boulders in the river, so this trip is best made with an experienced outfitter. Before you leave on your amazing camping trip, take a minute and read more about BLM camping.
The area surrounding Dotsero Crater Recreation Site is home to many types of wildlife, including mountain goats and elk. You are visiting these animals' homes, so be sure to clean up after yourself. The trash that campers have left behind has already attracted a larger number of bears to this area, upsetting the ecosystem.
It is easy to reach this site from Interstate 70 by taking the Dotsero exit. Stay on the interstate's frontage road until you reach Colorado 8460, and head north on that highway until you reach the site.
Address: Dotsero Crater Rec Site, Dotsero, Colorado 81637
Ready to visit Dotsero Crater Rec Site? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
